Divider board for harvesters



Feb. 23, 1932. c. PEARSON DIVIDER BOARD FOR HARVESTERS Filed Sept. 20, 1930 CTC Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES PEARSON, 0F GICERO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY DIVIDER BOARD FOR HARVESTERS Application led September 20, 1930. Serial No. 483,170.

rlhis invention relates to a divider board construction for the cutter bars of harvesters, such tor example as used at the outer end of the cutter bar of mowers.

Divider boards as now conventionally used are usually made of wood and are tiXedly connected to the outer shoe of the cutter bar. These boards are subjected to considerable pressure at times in cutting heavy crops, and it frequently happens that these boards can not stand the strain and are broken.

Therefore, it is the primary object ot this invention to provide a divider board so mounted that it may swing laterally when subjected to unusual pressure, to save the same from breakage.

It is another obj ect to associate with such a pivoted divider board a yielding means against which the divider board swings during such pivotal movement.

Still further, it is an object of this invention to construct the divider board of pressed metal, such for example as steel, the board including strengthening corrugations.

It is a general object to provide an improved divider board construction or harvester cutter bars.

These desirable objects may briefly be achieved in the illustrative example of the invention herein shown for the purposes of this disclosure, and, in the accompanying sheet of drawings:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the divider board, as seen from the outer end of the cutter bar;

Figure 2 is a general plan view;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the board, as seen along the line 3--3 in Figure l;

Figure l is a cross sectional view through the divider board, as seen along the line 4-4 appearing in Figure 1; and,

Figure 5 is a detached detail rear view of a casting comprising the pivot block of the assembly.

In the drawings, a harvester cutter bar is shown at 10, the same carrying at its outer end in any appropriate manner a shoe 11. By means of a bolt 12, this shoe, which curves rearwardly and inwardly behind the cutter bar 10, carries a pivot block 13 `formed with a journal 14 and a journal 15. These journals receive a pivot pin 16 arranged vertically therein, as shown in Fgures2 and 4, said pin having pivotally connected thereto an improved divider board 17. This divider board, as shown, has its front end turned back upon itselt and riveted together to form a hinge element 18, through which the pin 16 is passed. The board is preferably made of pressed metal in channel cross section, as appears in Figure 3, with parallel corrugations 19 thereon, which corrugations extend lengthwise of the divider board, as appears best in Figure 1.

A rod 20 has its rear end flattened and fastened to an intermediate point towards the rear of the divider board, as shown at 21, while the front end of said rod passes through al laterallv elongated slot 22 in a wall 23 provided in the pivot block. The end of the rod 21, which passed through the slot 22, is threaded to receive atnut 24:, which functions to alter the eli'ective length oit' the rod 20 by giving said nut 24 ditlerent adjustable sets on the rod in an obvious manner. Encircling this end oi the rod 2O is a coil spring 25, which abuts at one end against the Wall 23 and at the other end against a shoulder 26 formed on the rod.

In operation the divider board 17 is pivotally connected to the block 18 for lateral swinging movement when pressure is applied thereto, to prevent its breakage. Such pivotal or swinging movement of the divider board is in an outward direction and is yieldingly resisted by the spring 25, so that under normal conditions the spring always holds the divider board in its inner position Where it will etl'ectively function as a divider. The nut 24- acts as a limit or stop means to give the divider board its inward set position. The slot 22 is elongated, because, as the rod slides therethrough, it must also swing laterally slightly with the lateral swinging movement of the divider' board.

As the divider board is made of steel, it is light and not easily broken. The strengthening corrugations 19 permit the same to be made as light as possible and still have necessary strength.

From this detailed description it is now apparent that a construction is provided 5 which solves the problem heretofore stated and achieves the desirable objects mentioned. It is the intention to cover all such immaterial changes and modifications as do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

l. A divider board for a harvester cutter bar in which the bar carries a shoe, a pivot block secured to the shoe, a divider board pivotally connected to the block for lateral swinging movement, a rod fastened at one end to the board and at its other end being slidingly carried in the block, and yielding means associated with the rod and block whereby the board may yield and swing outwardly about its pivot.

2. A divider board for a harvester cutter bar in which the bar carries a shoe, a pivot block secured to the shoe, a divider board pivotally connected to `the block for lateral swinging movement, a rod fastened at one end to the board and at its other end being carried in a laterally elongated opening in the block for sliding and lateral movement,

3o a stop at the free end of the rod'to limit its Vsliding movement, and a Spring encircling Y the rod, said spring abutting the block at one end.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature CHARLES PEARSON. 

